Gravel Calculator — Tons, Cubic Yards & Cost

How Much Gravel Do I Need? The Quick Answer

For most projects, you'll need between 1 and 6 cubic yards of gravel. The exact amount depends on three things: the area you're covering, the depth you want, and the type of gravel you're using.

The basic formula is straightforward:

Gravel needed (cubic yards) = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27

All measurements should be in feet, with depth converted from inches (3 inches = 0.25 ft). The result divided by 27 converts cubic feet to cubic yards.

For example, a 20 ft × 10 ft area at 3 inches deep needs (20 × 10 × 0.25) ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards. The calculator above does this math instantly and lets you toggle between yards, tons, and bags.

Tons vs. Yards — Which Should You Order?

Gravel is sold by both weight (tons) and volume (cubic yards), and the conversion isn't intuitive because different gravels weigh different amounts.

Average weight conversions:

• 1 cubic yard of dry gravel weighs approximately 2,800 lb (1.4 tons)
• 1 cubic yard of wet gravel weighs approximately 3,000 lb (1.5 tons)
• 1 ton of gravel covers approximately 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep
• 1 ton of gravel = approximately 0.7 cubic yards

When to order by tons: Most quarries and bulk suppliers price by the ton. If you're getting a delivery from a quarry or stone yard, expect a per-ton quote.

When to order by yards: Landscaping suppliers and big-box stores often quote by the cubic yard. Yardage is also more useful when planning visual coverage.

Quick rule of thumb: Take your cubic yard estimate and multiply by 1.4 to get tons. If the supplier quotes by ton, this gives you the right order.

The calculator above shows both units. Order whichever matches your supplier's pricing, but verify the conversion with their team — actual weight varies by gravel type and moisture content.

Gravel Calculator for Driveways

Driveways are the most common gravel project and have specific requirements that differ from decorative or drainage applications.

Standard driveway gravel depths:

• New driveway base: 4 inches minimum, 6 inches recommended
• Resurfacing existing gravel driveway: 1 to 2 inches
• High-traffic or heavy vehicle driveways: 8 to 12 inches in layered installation

For a typical residential driveway (50 ft long × 12 ft wide × 4 inches deep), you need about 7.4 cubic yards or 10.4 tons of gravel.

Driveway gravel layers (recommended for new builds):

1. Sub-base layer — 4 inches of #3 crushed stone or larger angular rock for drainage
2. Middle layer — 2 inches of #57 crushed stone for stability
3. Top layer — 1 to 2 inches of #411 or pea gravel for surface

A layered driveway handles weight, drains properly, and lasts 10+ years before needing resurfacing. A single-layer gravel driveway works but compacts faster and develops potholes within 2-3 years.

Driveway gravel cost estimate: Bulk crushed stone runs $15 to $40 per ton delivered, depending on region and quantity. A typical 10-ton residential driveway costs $300 to $500 in gravel, plus $200 to $400 for delivery and grading if not done yourself.

Pea Gravel Calculator and Coverage

Pea gravel is the small, rounded stone (typically 1/4 to 3/8 inch) used for decorative landscaping, dog runs, walkways, and patio bases. It calculates differently from larger crushed stone because of its higher density and smaller voids.

Pea gravel weight:

• 1 cubic yard of pea gravel weighs approximately 2,800 to 3,000 lb (1.4 to 1.5 tons)
• 1 ton of pea gravel covers approximately 80 to 100 sq ft at 2 inches deep

How much pea gravel do I need?

For a typical pea gravel project at 2 inches deep:

• 100 sq ft area = 0.6 cubic yards (about 0.85 tons or 17 fifty-pound bags)
• 200 sq ft area = 1.2 cubic yards (about 1.7 tons)
• 500 sq ft area = 3.1 cubic yards (about 4.3 tons)

Pea gravel use cases and recommended depth:

• Walking paths: 2 to 3 inches deep
• Dog runs: 3 to 4 inches deep over weed barrier
• Decorative landscape beds: 2 inches deep
• Patio base under pavers: 2 inches deep, well-compacted
• Drainage applications: 4 to 6 inches deep

The calculator above handles pea gravel automatically — just enter your area and depth. For decorative coverage, lay landscape fabric underneath to prevent gravel from sinking into soil and to suppress weeds.

Landscape Rock Calculator

Decorative landscape rock — including river rock, lava rock, and crushed stone for landscaping — calculates the same way as standard gravel but with adjusted weights for stone type.

Landscape rock weight by type:

Stone TypeWeight per Cubic YardCoverage at 2" Deep (per ton)River rock (1-3 inch)2,500 lb100-110 sq ftCrushed limestone2,700 lb90-100 sq ftLava rock1,800 lb130-150 sq ftDecomposed granite3,000 lb80-90 sq ftCrushed marble3,000 lb80-90 sq ft

Recommended depth for landscape rock:

• Decorative ground cover: 2 to 3 inches
• Mulch replacement: 2 to 4 inches
• Walkways and edging: 3 to 4 inches
• Drainage areas: 4 to 6 inches

Lighter rocks like lava rock cover more area per ton, which makes them economical for large decorative areas. Heavier rocks like crushed marble give a denser, more permanent finish but cost more per square foot of coverage.

The calculator handles landscape rock as standard gravel. For more accurate results with lighter stones (lava rock especially), check the actual weight from your supplier and adjust the calculation if needed.

Gravel by Stone Size and Grade

Different gravel sizes serve different purposes, and stone yards classify them by grade numbers. Knowing which to order avoids costly mistakes.

Common gravel grades and uses:

• #1 (2 to 4 inches) — Drainage, large-scale erosion control
• #2 (3/4 to 2 inches) — Driveway base, road sub-base
• #3 (1/2 to 2 inches) — Driveway base layer, drainage
• #5 (3/4 to 1 inch) — Walkway base, paver base
• #57 (3/4 inch) — Most common driveway top, paver base, walkways
• #67 (3/4 inch minus) — Driveway surface, walkways
• #8 (3/8 to 1/2 inch) — Driveway top, mortar mix
• #411 (1/2 inch minus) — Compactable driveway surface, contains stone dust

3/4 inch crushed stone is the most-requested size for driveways and paver projects. It compacts well, drains effectively, and provides a stable surface. The calculator handles all sizes equivalently — depth and area drive volume, not stone size.

Stone 2b (sometimes called "modified" or "crusher run") is a regional Northeast US grading for 3/4 inch and smaller crushed stone with stone dust mixed in. It compacts harder than clean stone and is the standard for driveway sub-base in PA/NY/NJ.

If your supplier uses regional grade names (2b, modified, crusher run, ABC, etc.), ask them for the equivalent #57 or #411 to compare with the calculator output.

Paver Base Gravel Calculator

For patios, walkways, and driveways using pavers, the gravel base is the foundation that determines whether your installation lasts 5 years or 25.

Standard paver base specifications:

• Patios (foot traffic only): 4 inches of compacted gravel base
• Walkways: 4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel base
• Driveways (vehicle traffic): 8 to 12 inches of compacted gravel base in layered installation

Calculation example for a paver patio:

A 12 ft × 16 ft patio with 4 inches of gravel base needs (12 × 16 × 0.33) ÷ 27 = 2.4 cubic yards of #57 or #411 crushed stone, plus 1 inch of paver sand on top (about 0.6 cubic yards of sand).

Important: Always order 5-10% extra to account for compaction loss. Compacted gravel takes up about 90-95% of its loose volume, so your base will use slightly more than the math suggests.

The calculator above gives loose-volume estimates. For paver projects, multiply by 1.1 to account for compaction.

How Much Does Gravel Cost?

Gravel pricing varies significantly by region, stone type, quantity, and delivery distance, but here are realistic 2026 ranges for budget planning.

Per-ton bulk pricing (delivered, 5-10 ton minimum):

• Crushed stone (#57, #411, similar): $15 to $40 per ton
• Pea gravel: $30 to $55 per ton
• River rock: $50 to $100 per ton
• Decorative stone (marble, granite): $80 to $200 per ton
• Lava rock: $100 to $200 per ton

Per-bag retail pricing (50 lb bags from big-box stores):

• Crushed stone: $4 to $7 per bag
• Pea gravel: $5 to $9 per bag
• River rock: $7 to $15 per bag
• Decorative stone: $10 to $30 per bag

When to buy bagged vs. bulk:

• Under 1 ton (about 20 bags): Bagged is more practical
• 1-3 tons: Bulk delivery is cheaper but bagged is easier for tight spaces
• 3+ tons: Always order bulk delivery

Additional costs to budget:

• Delivery: $50 to $200 depending on distance and quantity
• Grading and spreading: $200 to $500 for typical residential projects
• Edging materials: $2 to $5 per linear foot
• Landscape fabric: $0.20 to $0.50 per sq ft

A typical gravel driveway project (10 tons, delivered, professionally graded) totals $600 to $1,200 in 2026. DIY with a self-rented loader can drop this to $300 to $600.

Step-by-Step — How to Calculate Yards of Gravel

If you want to do the math yourself instead of using the calculator, here's the exact process.

Step 1: Measure the area in feet

For rectangular areas, measure length and width. For irregular shapes, break the space into rectangles, calculate each separately, and add them together. For circular areas, use π × radius² (radius is half the diameter).

Step 2: Decide on depth

Depth depends on use case. Common depths:

• Decorative coverage: 2 inches
• Walkways: 3 inches
• Driveways: 4 inches new, 1-2 inches resurface
• Drainage: 4-6 inches
• Paver bases: 4 inches patio, 8-12 inches driveway

Step 3: Convert depth from inches to feet

Divide depth in inches by 12. Examples:

• 2 inches = 0.17 ft
• 3 inches = 0.25 ft
• 4 inches = 0.33 ft
• 6 inches = 0.5 ft

Step 4: Calculate cubic feet

Length × Width × Depth (all in feet) = Cubic feet

Example: 20 ft × 10 ft × 0.25 ft = 50 cubic feet

Step 5: Convert cubic feet to cubic yards

Divide cubic feet by 27 (because 1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet).

Example: 50 ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards

Step 6: Add 5-10% for waste and compaction

Round up to the nearest half-yard for ordering. The example above becomes 2 cubic yards ordered.

Step 7 (optional): Convert to tons

Multiply cubic yards by 1.4 (average weight) to get tons. The example becomes 2 × 1.4 = 2.8 tons.

The calculator above does all of this in seconds, but understanding the math helps you sanity-check supplier quotes and plan multi-stage projects.

Gravel Coverage Quick-Reference Tables

For fast estimating without the calculator, these tables show typical coverage figures.

1 ton of gravel covers:

DepthSq ft of coverage1 inch200 sq ft2 inches100 sq ft3 inches65-70 sq ft4 inches50 sq ft6 inches33 sq ft

1 cubic yard of gravel covers:

DepthSq ft of coverage1 inch320 sq ft2 inches160 sq ft3 inches108 sq ft4 inches81 sq ft6 inches54 sq ft

Bags of gravel needed per cubic yard:

• 0.5 cubic foot bags: 54 bags per cubic yard
• 1 cubic foot bags: 27 bags per cubic yard
• 50 lb bags: approximately 56 bags per cubic yard (varies by gravel type)

These are starting estimates. Actual coverage varies by stone shape, compaction, and surface preparation.